Sewing machine



Feb. 25, 1936 F.R!CKS ETAL 2,032,311

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m5 #6. mm a, W

$7 fWW Feb. 25, 1936, cKs ET AL 2,032,311

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 *r 5 DJ I Feb. 25,1936. F. RICKS ET AL. 2 3

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. RECKS ET AL SEWINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 6} 1934.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 SEWING MACHINE Fred Ricks,Harold Ernest Elliott, and Frank Coleman Choice, Leicester, England,assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. .1., acorporation of New Jersey -Application February 6, 1934, Serial No.709,916 in Great Britain November 4, 1933 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to sewing machines and particularly, butby no means exclusively, to hooked needle sewing machines such as areused, for instance, in the manufacture of shoes.

The invention willbe explained by way of illustration and not oflimitation in connection with curved hooked needle chain stitch sewingmachines of which the machine illustrated and described in the patentsto Eppler No. 1,108,560 dated August 25, 1914 and Topham No. 1,099,328dated June 9, 1914 is an example.

In machines of the type disclosed in the patents above referred to, thetension exerted on the thread by the agency of the usual tension deviceplays an important part in determining the propenformation of the seam,and requires to be adjusted with some nicety to deal with changing workconditions. The usual tension device is a friction device, and theactual tension being exerted in any given circumstances of adjustment isnot, therefore, reliably constant or readily ascertainable by theoperator of the machine, and the disturbance to meet other conditions ofa condition of adjustment found by trial and error appropriate to oneclass of work makes it a matter of no small difficulty for the operatorto restore the same tension conditions when he so desires.

In applicants pending application Serial No. 695,140, filed October 25,1933, an invention is disclosed, the objects of which are to provideincreased facilities'for effecting such restoration of conditionspreviously determined as appropriate to a given case and to providetension devices for such machines which shall reliably create, asdesired, tension of a determinate amount."

The present invention has for its object to improve and simplifymechanisms of the same general character as those disclosed inapplicants prior application, and with this object in view, the severalfeatures of the present invention consist in the novel and improveddevices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and claimed,the advantages of which will be appar- Figure 6 is a. detail sectionalview, taken'on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure '1 is a detail ver-.tical sectional view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure3; Figure 8 is a detail view in rear elevation of certain of the partsillustrated in Figure 3; and Figure 9 is a. detail view in sideelevation of certain of the parts illustrated in Figure 1.

The illustrated machine comprises a tension wheel 34 having a pair ofdiscs the margins of which are notched and the projections formed bywhich notches are bent to furnish a V-shaped groove to receive thethread. The discs are secured to the right-hand end of a horizontalspindie 35 extending from right to left of the machine, which spindle isrotatably mounted in a. bracket 36 secured to the rear of the machineframe. The tension wheel spindle 35 has keyed on it an internally andexternally coned clutch member 31 (Figs. 3- and 'l) which can slide onthe spindle 35. An internally coned clutch ring 38 is supported by pins39, which are secured in a yoke to, and is withdrawn by Pins 44 mountedin the arms of a yoke 45 secured to a horizontal shaft 46rotatably'mounted in the block 42. The pins 44 engage a member 41 of aball bearing 48 positioned between the clutch member 31 and-a collar 46secured on a sleeve portion 50 projecting from the clutch member 31. Theclutch ring 36 is prevented from rotating about the axis of the pins 35by links 5| secured at one end to the ring 36 and having at their otherends recesses which engage the pins 44. The shaft 4| has secured on itan arm 52 which is connected by a link 53 to a cam lever 54 of themachine which controls the thread. The shaft 46 has secured to it an arm55 connected by a link 56 to a lever |56 associated with stop mechanismof the machine for a purpose hereinafter described, the lever I55 beingmoved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 asthe machine comesto rest.

The externally coned flange 51 hereinbefore referred to is secured to athree-armed flange 58 I formed on one end of a second shaft 53rotatablymounted in the bracket 36 in axial alignment with the shaft 35. Theexternally coned flange 51 is supported by a head I56 (Figure 7) formedon one end of the shaft 35, relative endwise movement between theflange51 and head I59 being prevented by a plate 68 secured to the head. Aball bearing 6| is interposed between the end of the shaft 59 and thehead I59.

The shaft 59 has projecting from it a pin 62 to which is connected oneend of a wire 63. The wire 63 is wound round the shaft 59 and its otherend is secured to one end of a helical tension spring 64. The other endof the spring 64 is connected to an arm 65 secured on a shaft 66rotatably mounted in the bracket 38. Also secured on the shaft 88 is anarm 61 which is connected by a pin and slot connection 68 to a rod 69.The rod 69 extends from the back to the front of the machine and may beadjusted lengthwise to adjust the tension of the spring 64. Foradjusting the rod 69, it is provided with a screw threaded portion whichis threaded through a stud. 2| mounted on the frame of the machine. Atits forward end, the rod 69 is provided with a hand wheel 10conveniently accessible to the operator by means of which the rod 69 maybe rotated to secure the desired adjustment in the tension of the spring64. To indicate the condition of the adjustment to the operator, anarcuate scale 22 is formed on a fixed plate 23 and a pointer 24 is alsoprovided which is pivoted on the stud 2| and is arranged to be movedover the scale'when the rod 69 is adjusted. The pointer 24 has extendingfrom itshub a short arm 25 having formed in it a recess 26 which isengaged by a pin 21 extending upwardly-from a block 28mounted to movewith the rod 69. The block 28 is substantially U-shaped when viewed fromabove, and its arms are arranged one at the front and one at the rear ofthe stud 2| and by their alternative engagement with the stud 2| limitthe amount of adjustment which can be iven to the rod 69. The block 28is mounted to slide between flanges 29 projecting from the machine frameand is held from rotation by these flanges. As has been indicated, thehand wheel 70 is within easy reach of the operator as he stands in hisnormal operative position in front of the machine, and the pointer 24and scale 22 are readily visible to him in this position.

Movement of the shaft 59 under the influence of the spring 64 is limitedby the engagement of a lug 13 (Fig. 8) on a collar 14 secured on theshaft 59 with a plunger 15 which is backed by a spring 16 (Fig. 5) theplunger and spring being carried by the bracket 36 and the spring 16being stronger than the spring 64. The spring 16 and plunger .15 providea buffer or yielding stop which yieldingly resists the rapid movement ofthe lug 13 under the influence of the spring 64.

When; during the operation of the machine, the take-up lever is settingthe previously formed stitch and is pulling thread from the supply, theinternally andexternally coned clutch member 31 is in engagement withthe externally coned flange 51 and the clutch ring 38 is disengaged fromthe member 31. The tension wheel is, therefore, connected through theshafts 35, '59 to one end of the spring 64 which as the take-up ismoving in a direction to set the previous stitch and draw thread fromthe supply is further tensioned (it being understood that the threadlapped round the wheel cannot slip around the same) and through thetension wheel exerts tension on the thread, the final amount of tensionbeing primarily dependent upon the previous adjustment of the hand-wheell0 and to a lesser degree on the extent of rotation of the tensionwheel. After the take-up has finished its movement to set the previousstitch and draw thread from the supply the clutch ring 38 is moved byits cam lever 54 into engagement with the member 31 and moves thislatter member axially away from the externally coned flange 51 (so thatin effect the tension wheel is locked) and the shaft 59 is free to bereturned by the spring 84 until the lug 13 on the collar 14 engages theplunger I5.

At the time in the machine cycle when the needle is moving back andpulling a loop of thread through the work and exerting a pull on thepreceding loop, the tension wheel is prevented from rotation by theengagement of the clutch ring 38 with the clutch member 31. To allow theneedle to obtain thread during its backward movement, the usual stopagainst which the auxiliary take-up is moved by the pull of the needleon the thread before the needle reaches its fully back position is, inthe construction being described, arranged to yield at this time so thatthe needle may obtain by such yield thread during its final backwardmovement by movement of the auxiliary take-up, but means is provided tomake the action of the stop positive and effective during movement ofthe main take -up to set the previous stitch and draw thread from thesupply. In this way drawing of the thread from the supply is effectedsolely by the main take-up and the needle does not have to pull anythread from the supply and is not subject to the .heavy pull of thespring 64. 7

Referring to Figure 9, the main take-up lever 88 is pivoted at 8| to themachine frame and is operated by a cam on the cam shaft of the machine.The auxiliary take-up lever 82 is pivoted at 83 on the machine frame andis controlled by a comparatively light spring 84 connected at one end tothe auxiliary take-up ,lever and at the other end to a block 85 which isadjustable by means of a threaded rod 86 and nut 81 in a guideway in themachine frame to adjust the tension of the spring.

A pointer 88 formed on the block 85 and a scale 89 on the frame providemeans whereby the tension of the spring 84 is indicated to the operatorand whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted a definite andknown amount. Movement of the auxiliary take-uplever 82 under theinfluence of the spring 84 is limited by a stop (not shown). Theauxiliary take-up lever 82 has adjustably fixed on it an angled block 98which, during the upward movement of the main takeup lever88 is engagedby a pin 9| secured in the main take-up lever, for a purpose hereinafterdescribed. An arm 92 is pivoted on the same pivot as the auxiliarytake-up lever 82 and is normally held upwardly against a stop (notshown) by a spring 93 connected at one end to the arm 92 and at theother end to a block 94 which is adjustable by means of a threaded rod95 and nut 96 in a guideway in the machine frame to vary the tension ofthe spring 93.

A pointer 98 on the block 94 and a scale 99 on the frame serve toindicate to the operator the tension of the spring 93 and permit thetension to be quickly adjusted a known amount. The arm 92 is arranged tobe engaged by an arm 91 on the auxiliary take-up lever 82 during theoperation of the machine, as will hereinafter appear.

During the operation of the machine when the main take-up lever 88 isrising to draw thread from the supply, the pin 9| in the take-up lever88 engages the block 98 near the end of its upward movement and swingsthe auxiliary take-up lever 82 in a direction to cause that lever todraw from the supply a small amount of thread in addition to that drawnby the main take-up. The main take-up draws from the supply an amount ofthread slightly less than is required for the next stitch, and the maintake-up lever 80 and pin 9| cause the auxiliary take-up to draw the restof the thread required. When the main take-up lever is descending andthe usual looper is placing the thread round the needle, the auxiliarytake-up is under the control of the comparatively light spring 84. Atthe time in the machine cycle when the needle has pulled a loop ofthread through the workand has nearly reached its rearmost position, thearm 91 comes 'into engagement with the arm 92 and, during the last partof the rearward movement of the needle,

when the needle is pulling the previous stitch tight, movement of theauxiliary take-up is resisted by both springs 94, 93.

' is drawing thread from the supply and setting the previous stitchagainst the tension of the spring 64 and the stop pin 9I is removed fromthe block .90 while the looper is wrapping the thread round the needleand while the needle is drawing a loop of thread through the work andpulling the last stitch tight. The three springs 64, 84 and 93 areindependently adjustable and the adjusting means for each spring isprovided with indicating means so that the operator can tell at a glancethe tension in the various springs at any time and can readily adjustthe tension of the springs by a known amount to suit the character ofthe work to be operated upon.

As in the case of the machine disclosed in the patents hereinbeforereferred to, the machine is automatically stopped when sewing isdiscontinued with the needle retracted and accordingly it becomesnecessary to provide means for releasing the tension wheel 34 on thestopping of the machine so that thread may be drawn from the supply whenthe shoe is, drawn away from. the machine. The releasing of the tensionwheel when the machine stops is effected by moving the coned member 31away from the ring 38 and externally coned flange 51. The internally andexternally coned member 31 is moved away from the ring 38 and flange 51by the pins 44, yoke 45 and connections to the stop mechanism of themachine hereinbefore described.

To guard against the thread being broken, when the main take-up startsto draw thread from the supply, due to the sudden pull on the threadhaving to overcome the inertia of the ten- Y sion wheel and itsassociated parts and the spring 64 is connected is given a movement inthe direction in which it is moved by rotation of the tension wheel asthe main take-up commences to draw thread from the supply. This movementof the shaft 59 is effected by the engagement of an adjustable screw Iwith the lug 13 extending from the collar I4 which is secured on theshaft 59, as hereinbefore described. The screw I00 is carried by a ingIOI extending from a pinion I02 rotatably mounted on the shaft 59 andthe pinion is engaged by a gear segment I03 formed on an arm I04 whichis secured to a shaft I05 rotatably mounted in bearings on the bracket30.

The shaft I05 has secured on it an arm I06 (Figure 1) which is connectedby a rod II" to an eccentric strap surrounding an eccentric secured tothe cam shaft of the machine. The eccentric is arranged on the cam shaftso that just as, or

slightly before, the main take-up commences to draw thread from thesupply, the screw I 00 is moved into engagement with the lug I3 on thecollar 14 and causes the shaft 59 to begin to move in the direction inwhich it is subsequently moved by rotation of the tension wheel 34 whenthe main take-up is drawing thread from the supply so that the inertiaof the tension wheel and its associated parts and the inertia of thespring 64 do not have to be overcome by the pull on the thread as themain take-up commences to draw thread from the supply. The screw I00only engages the lug I3 for a short time and then moves away from. the

lug, the lug continuing to be moved in the direction in which itwasmoved by the screw as the main take-up draws thread from the supply andwhen the tension wheel is returned by the spring 64, the screw I00 isout of the way of the lug so that the lug can engage the plunger 75.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated, and amachine embodying the several features of the invention having been speciflcally described, what is claimed is:

l. A chain stitch shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a thread tension wheel located at the back of themachine. a spring to restrain the rotation of the tension wheel, meansacting in timed relation to the-stitch forming devices for connectingand disconnecting the wheel and spring during each stitch-forming cycle,means extending to the front of the machine conveniently accessible tothe operator for adjusting the tension of the spring, and. an indicatingdevice visible to the operator while at the front of the machine andactuated by said adjusting means for indicating the amount of tensionplaced on the spring.

2. A chain stitch shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a thread tension wheel located at the back of themachine, a spring to restrain the rotation of the tension wheel, meansacting in timed relation to the stitch forming devices for connectingand disconnecting the wheel and spring during each stitch forming cycle,means extending to the front of the maadjusting the tension of saidspring comprising a longitudinally movable rod, a tension indicat ingscale visible to the operator while at the front of the machine,apointer cooperating with the scale, and connections between the rod andthe pointer for actuating the pointer to indicate the amount of tensionplaced on the spring.

3. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, athread tension wheel, a rotatable shaft, a helical spring to restrainthe rotation of the shaft, a flexible connection from one end of thespring to the shaft arranged to be wound on the shaft during itsrotation. and means acting in timed relation to the stitch formingdevices for connecting and disconnecting the wheel and shaft during eachstitch forming cycle.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, athread tension wheel, a rotatable shaft, a helical spring to restrainthe rotation of the shaft, a flexible connection from one end of thespring to the shaft arranged to be wound on the shaft during itsrotation, means acting in timed relation to the stitch forming devicesfor connecting and disconnecting the wheel and shaft during each stitchforming cycle, and means connected to the other end of the spring foradjusting the initial tension of the spring.

5. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, athread tension wheel,

a rotatable shaft, a helical spring to restrain the rotation of theshaft, a flexible connection from one end of the spring to the shaftarranged to be wound on the shaft during its rotation, means acting intimed relation to the stitch forming devices for connecting anddisconnecting the wheel and shaft during each stitch forming cycle,means extending to the front of the machine conveniently accessible tothe operator for adjusting the tension of the spring comprising alongitudinally movable rod, 2. connection between said rod and the otherend of the spring, a tension indicating scale visible to the operatorwhile at the front of the machine, a pointer cooperating with the scale,and connections between the pointer and said rod for actuating thepointer to indicate the amount of tension placed on the spring.

6. A chain stitch shoe sewing machine having,

' in combination, a hook needle, a looper, a main take-up acting whilethe needle is in the work, a spring pressed auxiliary take-up, a threadtension wheel, a spring to restrain the rotation of the wheel, means forconnecting the wheel and spring during the take-up action of the takeup,means for locking the wheel from rotation during the loop drawing strokeof the needle, and a stop on the main take-up arranged to engage theauxiliary take-up during the take-up action of the main take-up.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, athread tension device, including a member movable with the thread as itis drawn from the supply, a spring yieldingly holding said memberagainst movement, and means in addition to the thread for initiating themovement of said member in the direction in which it is moved by thethread.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, athread tension wheel, a rotatable member, a spring yieldingly holdingthe member from rotation, means for clutching and unclutching thetension wheel and member during each stitch forming cycle to cause themember to be rotated with the wheel. against the force of the spring bya pull on the thread and to be returned independently of the wheel, andpower actuated connections, for initiating the rotation of said memberin the direction in which it is moved by the thread.

9. A chain stitch shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a hookneedle, a looper, a main take-up acting while,the needle is in the work,an auxiliary take-up, a spring connected to the auxiliary take-up toexert a yielding strain on the thread during the first portion of theloop drawing stroke of the needle, a spring pressed member arranged tobe engaged by the auxiliary take-up during the latter portion of theloop drawing stroke of the needle, a thread tension wheel, a spring torestrain the rotation of the wheel, means for connecting the wheelandspring during the take-up action of the main take-up means for lockingthe wheel from rotation during the loop drawing stroke of the needle,and means for preventing yielding movement of the auxiliary take-upduring the take-up action of the main take-up. v

10. A chain stitch shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a hookneedle, a looper, a main take-up acting while the needle is in the work,a main take-up lever, an auxiliary take-up, a spring pressed auxiliarytake-up lever, a spring pressed arm mounted coaxially with the auxiliarytake-up lever arranged to be engaged by the auxiliary take-up leverduring the latter portion of the loop drawing stroke of the needle, athread tension wheel, a spring restraining the rotation of the wheel,means for connecting the Wheel and spring during the take-up action ofthe main take-up, means for locking the wheel from rotation during theloop drawing stroke of the needle, and a stop on the main take-up leverarranged to engage the auxiliary take-up lever and prevent yieldingmovement of the auxiliary take-up during the take-up action of the maintake-up.

FRED RICKS. HAROLD ERNEST ELLIO'I'I'. FRANK COLEMAN CHOICE.

